Bhubaneswar: While outlining the roadmap to rejuvenate the party ahead of the Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik is all set to step up his outreach across Odisha by visiting districts and reviewing the party’s organisational strength.
The strategy was chalked out during a key BJD meeting chaired by Naveen Patnaik at Sankha Bhawan in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. While discussions focused on strengthening the party organisation at the grassroots level, the BJD chief sought feedback from leaders individually and also shared his own suggestions on improving the party’s preparedness for future electoral battles.
The BJD supremo reportedly held detailed discussions with leaders who were defeated in the 2024 elections to understand the challenges faced during the polls.
According to BJD leaders, the nearly two-hour closed-door session focused on strengthening the party’s grassroots machinery, reviewing local challenges, and preparing for the upcoming panchayat and municipal elections.
Speaking at the meeting, the BJD supremo painted a grim picture of the current state of affairs in Odisha, and said the law and order situation has collapsed in the last two years. People are living in fear as murders, rapes, loot, and atrocities against women have crossed all limits, he said.
The former chief minister also criticised the worsening economic condition and the delay in social security pensions for the elderly and differently-abled, contrasting it sharply with the fiscal health left behind by the BJD government.
In 24 years of BJD rule, Odisha earned a shining identity across the country through transformative work in disaster management, food security, health, education, irrigation, infrastructure, and welfare of farmers, women, and the poor, said Naveen, urging leaders to highlight these achievements.
The BJD chief specially lauded the massive success of BJD’s Nari Adhikar Abhiyan (Women’s Rights Campaign), which concluded across all 120 Assembly constituencies. Thousands of women braved the scorching heat to participate, sending a clear message of public discontent with the present dispensation. “The overwhelming response to our women’s rights campaign indicates that change is on the horizon. It exposes the BJP’s deceptive politics on women’s safety,” he said.
With panchayat and municipal elections approaching, Naveen asked party leaders to begin full preparations with complete self-confidence. He emphasised greater use of social media to connect with voters and counter narratives effectively.
On the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the BJD president struck a cautious note. “SIR is extremely important. We must remain alert and learn from incidents that occurred in other states during the process,” he said, asking workers to ensure no eligible voter is left out due to minor typographical errors.
The meeting was conducted by senior BJD vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra. Leaders shared ground-level feedback on organisational issues and local problems. A detailed presentation on BJD’s past achievements, current organisational programmes, and the SIR process was also made during the session.
